Chapter 32: Earth-Grade Soul Master
Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
Ma Ping'an changed into a green robe and waited here after work. It had been a while since night fell, but they had yet to come.
He wandered on the spot, craning his neck to look.
Two figures walked over in the night.
His eyes lit up as he hurried forward. "I thought you weren't coming!"
Zhang Ronghua shook his head. "It took a little time to interrogate him."
"Any results?"
"Qian Shoucai was very stubborn. He didn't speak until he died."
"I heard His Highness mention it before. When he was taken down, he was interrogated severely and refused to speak."
Ma Ping'an comforted him.
"You don't have to be discouraged. This time, they provoked the Grand Tutor. This matter seems to be over, but the Grand Tutor won't let it go. He'll secretly send someone to investigate."
"Go in!"
They entered the Heavenly Fragrance Tower.
Led by the maid, they went up to the third floor and sat in a private room near the window.
Zhang Ronghua said, "Order whatever you want."
"How refreshing!"
Ma Ping'an ordered six specialty dishes. The ingredients were all demonic beasts. The meat smelled delicious and contained spiritual energy, but it was a little expensive.
Next was Zheng Fugui. They ordered and Zhang Ronghua casually ordered two dishes.
The maid took the list and left.
Zheng Fugui got up from his chair. "I'll go relieve myself."
The door closed.
"As expected of the Heavenly Fragrance Tower. The maidservants are all so beautiful and fresh."
Drinking tea, the two of them chatted.
They reached the first-floor lobby.
Zheng Fugui was about to find a maid to ask where Xiao Mi was when his eyes lit up. He looked at her from the backyard and ran over honestly. "We meet again."
"Just you?"
"No! There's still Cousin and Ma Ping'an. Cousin's treating tonight."
"I'll make a toast later."
"Don't!"
Seeing her frown, he explained frantically, "I—I—"
Puchi!
Xiao Mi was amused. "Alright! Then I won't go."
"You like Sky Jade Brew?"
"Your cousin has it?"
"No!"
"It's very famous. The last time I tasted it, it did live up to its name. If I have the chance, I naturally want to try it."
"I'll think of something and see if I can get it."
"Don't do anything stupid!"
When they went upstairs, Zheng Fugui was smiling as if he had eaten honey.
They entered the private room.
The food and wine had been served and were waiting for him.
Zhang Ronghua glanced at him and thought for a moment, but he could not guess the reason. "Did you find money?"
"No."
"Then why are you stupidly happy?"
"Isn't this a feast? I'm happy."
Zhang Ronghua did not doubt him and believed his words.
The three of them clinked glasses. As soon as the wine entered his mouth, Zhang Ronghua's expression changed. He put down the glass and spat out the wine in his mouth. "It's poisoned!"
The two of them reacted quickly and put down their glasses before they could drink.
Ma Ping'an took out the silver needle from his pocket and placed it in the wine. When he took it out again, it had already turned black. The poison was strong. He wiped it clean and tried it again in the wine.
Putting away the silver needles, his face darkened and his fists cracked. His eyes were murderous. "Someone wants to kill us!"
Zheng Fugui suddenly stood up from his chair with a murderous aura. He was about to rush out and ask for an explanation when Zhang Ronghua pressed his shoulder. "Sit down!"
"It's her?"
"She wouldn't dare!"
From their previous contact, Xiao Mi, as a woman, had managed the Heavenly Fragrance Tower as one of the top restaurants in the capital. Those who entered and left this place were either rich or noble. He was a smart person and would not be so stupid as to poison their food and wine.
Taking a step back, even if she was lucky enough to succeed, unless she fled through the night and stayed away from Great Xia, the Crown Prince would not let her off!
From this, they could infer that the murderer was not her.
"Calm down."
Seeing Zheng Fugui's angry expression, he glared at him. The latter put away his anger, but his fists were still clenched under his sleeve.
Zhang Ronghua said, "Bring another pot of wine."
The door opened.
The maid came in from outside and glanced at them subtly. The atmosphere was normal. The two had not discovered that they had been poisoned. She closed the door and walked towards Zhang Ronghua. She did not know that they were observing her too. Zhang Ronghua secretly used the Clear Spirit Eyes. He did not feel any internal energy fluctuations from her, but her soul power was very strong. She had reached the early stage of the Earth-grade and was a Soul Master.
If they really fought, unless he exposed his cultivation, they could not take her down alone.
An Earth-grade soul master was comparable to a Great Grandmaster.
The moment he saw her stop beside him and put down the wine pot, he attacked. A terrifying force hit her chest and sent her flying, knocking the wall down and causing her to fall to the ground below.
"Go!"
She rushed out first and stopped in the alley.
After she took a punch and broke a few ribs in her chest, she could not take it any longer and fainted.
When Ma Ping'an lifted her from the ground, the two of them rushed over.
He asked, "Is that her?"
"Most likely."
The huge commotion here alarmed the Heavenly Fragrance Tower. When Xiao Mi received the news, she quickly rushed over with her men and lowered his stance. "What are the three lords doing?"
Zhang Ronghua's face was cold. "Is she yours?"
Xiao Mi looked at her seriously. She didn't recognize her. "No!"
She called the shopkeeper over. He was in charge of the daily management of the restaurant. After sizing her up, he remembered. "Lord Ma, she just came not long ago. Zhu'er brought her to me and said that her period is here. Her stomach hurts very badly and asked her sister to replace her."
"Arrest her!"
The shopkeeper rushed towards Zhu'er's house with Zheng Fugui.
"The food was poisoned."
Xiao Mi's expression changed. She knew the seriousness of this matter. "I'm willing to bear all the losses of the three lords!"
"Find a quiet room."
She led them into a room in the backyard and tactfully retreated.
In the room.
Zhang Ronghua crippled her limbs to prevent her from using her soul power to injure others. He slapped her face and broke her disguise, revealing a middle-aged face.
"Shen Hongniang!"
"You know her?"
"Yes."
Ma Ping'an nodded and told him what he knew.
She was Prince Gong's adopted sister and the disciple of Daoist Nun Qinglian. She was usually not in Prince Gong's residence and cultivated with her master. She had only escaped last time because of that.
He voiced his guess. "She must have returned to the capital recently and learned that Prince Gong had committed suicide. You were the one who brought people into the Prince's Manor so she blamed you for his death."
"We'll know if we wake her up and interrogate her."
He stepped roughly on her palm.
Crack!
Her fingers were broken, and it hurt so much that she woke up from her coma. She did not hide her murderous gaze as she stared at Zhang Ronghua. "How did you see through me?"
He directly used the Seven-section Soul Extinguishing Hand to interrogate her. Just as Ma Ping'an had guessed, she blamed Prince Gong's death on him.
As for Zhu'er, it was simple. Money cleared the way and someone replaced her at work. Naturally, she agreed happily and took the money home.
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